"Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch."

Lately I have been reading a lot of really cool blogs and article about unschooling- mainly the radical kind.  Where unschooling means letting you child take the lead in their learning, radical unschooling extends that thinking to their whole life. A well known unschooler put it best:

Unschooling includes trusting your child in what they choose to learn.  Radical Unschooling, which expands unschooling philosophy to parenting, means you extend that same trust to other areas of your child’s life, like foods, media, television… (It) requires thinking outside the box and a huge dose of courage.
Parenting is supposed to be joyful, and it can be when we learn to connect with, rather than control, our children.  We were raised in a different era, where the majority of the parenting focused on obedience and doing what we were told…Once you understand that there is a more respectful, fulfilling way to live in  harmony with not only our children, but also with others, you are well on your way.  Just learning that a new parenting paradigm exists is often the first step in someone’s journey to a new awakening.    ~ Dayna Martin, Radical Unschooling: A Revolution has Begun


There are many aspects of my life that I want to improve upon but the way I parent is the top of the list. The bottom line is that I don't want to make the same mistakes my mother, and many parents in this country, made. I don't want my kids to have childhood memories that involve spankings, guilt, harsh criticisms, groundings, bribery, and feelings of not being "enough".

I want my girls to lead a life that they enjoy, be productive members of society but not feel like they are "supposed" to do anything that does not feel right for them. I don't want them to enter careers that they are not passionate about, that they will dread going to every day. I want them to take what they learn in their youth and let it grow into something beautiful and real.

But how does one go from the norm of chores, set bedtimes, basically a very controlled environment to a whole life unschooling approach?? Well, I am taking those first baby steps by following the mantra,
"Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch."

A good friend, Melissa, gave me that advice when I asked how to even begin changing how I approach my kids. Do I just let go of everything and let the chips fall where they may? No! Then they would take over the house and it would be an urban version of Lord of the Flies! =)

So this weekend I decided to take some steps and do away with a set bedtime and media monitoring. We will see what happens and watch our kids enjoy life in a stress free, full of joy way!

If you are interested in reading a bit more about unschooling, this is a great article to get your mind thinking of the possibilities! 

Random Thoughts On Parenting...

Source: etsy.com via Cassie on Pinterest

So for the last three days poor Miss Moira has been running a low fever and wailing constantly. She popped her first two teeth at the same time and that seems to be her trend. She is NOT. HAPPY. She has expressed her unhappiness by biting me hard while nursing, in turn making me NOT. HAPPY. (Oh Hyland's Teething Tablets, where art thou?) Anyhow, any teething remedies that you all might know, including biting while nursing, will be greatly appreciated!!  We have Sophie the Giraffe, frozen fruit, wooden teething necklaces.... she wants nothing but to wail away....

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It is now August and already the whole, "I can't wait till Johnny is back at school" comments are appearing on Facebook, Twitter, and elsewhere. Really? Your kids are that much of a hassle and damper on your lifestyle that you are jumping for joy when they are away from you for no less than 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? It leaves me speechless.... It is one thing if your kids like school and prefer to be there than with you... but the majority of kids that I know stress out about the start of school and dread the end of summer. And how do you think it makes them feel to hear you say that you can't wait to be rid of them? It would make me feel pretty crappy personally! (I looooooved school and definitely counted the days until September, but then again I was a nerd and living in a not-so-great home)
Maybe people should think about why they love summer so much and how once school starts all the fun is over.... hhhmmmm?

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Source: thematernallens.blogspot.com via Kim on Pinterest

This is World Breastfeeding Week.  I am very lucky in that I have not only a great support system, but also because I am a stay at home mom and have a husband who is 110% supportive of nursing wherever and whenever the need arises. I have friends who are very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of being successful and have done enough research to know how important it is for Moira's health to nurse her for as long as possible. Someday I would love to become a lactation consultant and share what I know about breastfeeding with other moms, especially ones who aren't as lucky as I am to have such great support.

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Finally, I would like to share a little piece of parenting wisdom that I read the other day here:

We don't give them the freedom expecting that they will choose as we would choose. We give them the freedom so they don't have to. We give them the freedom because we trust them and want them to grow up trusting themselves.


I love this quote because that is what I am striving for as a parent. I want to be there to guide when needed, to listen when needed, and to observe the magic that is childhood- a time that far too many people would wish away if they could. I want to raise girls that are smart, independent, fearless, and so much more with a healthy dose of sassiness on the side! I DON'T want little robots who do whatever an adult says without question, who look perfect, act perfect and who are void of any creativity or personality. Sometimes I act without thinking about this path I am on and veer into the land of Crazy Mean Mommy. I get mad and hear myself say the word "brat" even though that is a word that is demeaning and derogatory, and then I feel really bad that I lost my cool. But I am human and realize that if I can at least admit my mistakes, say sorry for them, that is progress...

Monday Linkies

Has anyone gone to see the new Harry Potter movie? I am re-reading the books and am so excited to finally see the conclusion to this great series! I love this photo of the cast members out of character

                                                                                   Source: neffsays.tumblr.com via thelittlereddoor on Pinterest

It seems like Polyvore and Pinterest are BFF's and here is my idea of a perfect date night outfit!

Source: polyvore.com via Connie on Pinterest

I love new uses for common household things, especially if it makes a space prettier. This is genius!

Source: toriejayne.blogspot.com via Connie on Pinterest

I have been doing a lot of gentle parenting thinking lately, trying to retrain myself to remember the wonderful words of other inspiring parents. This is a great article concerning tantrums and a new way of looking at them. Thanks Jen!

I can't wait for fall! I am so over this heat it isn't even funny... it is hot, humid, and I have even taken a beach hiatus because the sand burns my feet... I want to be out in some cooler weather wearing something like this:

Source: peruvianconnection.com via Connie on Pinterest

I think I may do some painting tonight... I have some blank peggy dolls who need to look like this:

Source: simplesimonandco.blogspot.com via Connie on Pinterest

Finally, I have been thinking a lot about losing some major weight and getting healthier. I have been inspired by shows, saying, photos. and healthy food recipes. I will be teaching 11 dance classes in the fall (whoo hoo!) so that is a great start for my cardio. I just need to get some weight lifting going and up the ante on my diet, which isn't toooo bad, but needs some improving. I love this saying, it is something I think about when I don't want to work out but should:

Source: firsthome.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Great saying right? So, that's all for now... I am going to go take the girls for a walk and daydream of size 6 jeans! Ciao!

Some Tuesday Luvin'

How is everyone this hot, sweaty, humid day? We woke up this morning to no power thanks to the powerful storms that swept through last night. Not a good day to be without air conditioning! I don't know about you all, but I was not made for any temps above 80... ick!

Anyhow, here are some cool things that I have seen and want to make... enjoy and stay cool! =P

* I can't wait for the cooler temps so I can wear stuff like this again!

Source: polyvore.com via Connie on Pinterest

*I am already getting the itch to get another tattoo... 

I am thinking maybe a girlie version of Klint's Tree of Life one?

Source: weheartit.com via Connie on Pinterest

* I love simple things that have lots of meaning... 

these penny charms would be a great addition to my keyring!

Source: etsy.com via Connie on Pinterest

* Nothing says summer more to me than fresh veggies and dip! 

Doesn't this look yummy?!

Source: eatingoutloud.com via Connie on Pinterest

* This photo reminded me of the new Winnie the Pooh movie that is coming out.
I can't wait to take the girls to see it!

Source: flickr.com via Connie on Pinterest

*Speaking of which, have you heard the song from the trailer?
I am in love with it!




*Finally, this is everything I am trying to channel...
gentle parenting is getting easier and more of a habit every day!

Source: jennyanddukefamily.blogspot.com via Connie on Pinterest

Where the Heck is the Village?

Usually when I read parenting posts that have a different viewpoint than my own I shrug them off and walk away. But once in awhile an article just hits that nerve and I have to at least speak up for those who can't aren't allowed to.

This article, written by a callous and inhumane man named LZ Granderson, is an article that everyone should read, as well as it's comments. It is a wake up call about the culture we live in and how we treat our pets better than our children. Don't believe me? Check out this clever little chart made by Vickie at Demand Euphoria:

Know what this chart tells me? It is really bad to hit my dog, that's animal cruelty. But it is perfectly ok for me to hit my own child, that's called discipline. Makes sense right?

Yet, in the article written, LZ states:

Spanking is not a cure, and should not be the first resort, but I don't think it should automatically be taken off the table when dealing with small kids. We're so preoccupied with protecting children from disappointment and discomfort that we're inadvertently excusing them from growing up.

Why can't people realize that kids are PEOPLE TOO!  If you would get fidgety and annoyed sitting at a boring dinner where people ignore you, why is it so hard to believe that your child feels the exact same way?! So your child complains about the situation and gets punished.... or worse yet, your child tries to have fun in a not-fun situation, and gets punished. I don't know about you, but it seems like a lose-lose situation to me.

I believe that we, as a whole, need to remember what it is like to be little, unable to express any emotion that may be perceived as disrespectful (aka: discontent, resistance, annoyance, stubbornness... really any emotion that is not quiet calmness), to not have any say in how the day went, what was served, where you went, when you slept. To be thirsty but not able to have a drink without going through all the hoops of getting an adult's attention, asking for a cup, asking for help to get the drink, and hoping that you will actually get to drink what you want to drink, remembering to say please or whatever word the adult wants to hear... personally it sounds exhausting!

The thing that bothered me the most about the article though was these two simple sentences:

I do not love your child.
The rest of the country does not love your child either.

When I read those two sentences I just sat back, stunned that someone can write such hate. Hate against someone that we are supposed to protect and care for because they cannot protect themselves. And then we wonder why children are the victims of violent crimes, why they grow up to be bullies, bring guns to school and take their own lives after their rage explodes.... Here are children that needed a hug instead of a slap, a kind word instead of a time out, and needed the adults in their world to love them.

Why can't we smile at a child who is making the best out of a situation? Lend a kind word to a harried parent who is just trying to make it through the day instead of giving a dirty look or a rude comment? Kids and parents have bad days and sometimes there are situations out of their control. Maybe we can stop expecting everyone to be perfect and realize that as long as society allows this hatred of childhood to continue, bullying and other hateful acts will also continue.

Want to read more posts regarding this article? Check out this one from Vickie and this one from Tiff.

Thank Goodness That Is Over!

Well so ends my hellish days of trying to balance a 10 hr job, a baby, a hubby who works third shift, a home daycare, and sanity! I am done for the season with dance photography, my family that I care for is moving to Chicago so their last day was yesterday, and it should be smooth sailing from now on. I was happy to have the extra money, but the stress it put on the hubs and me was just too much with Moira being so little and dependent on me. Now onto dance at a fabulous new studio (I am no longer at Rock City... long story and not worth the aggravation), Gabby has tons of t-ball games coming up, and I am ready to just relax a little. =)

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In keeping with our No Junk Eating Out theme, tonight I made an awesome dinner (if I say so myself!): Chicken Taco Salad with fresh avocado, tomato, tortilla chips, and a salsa ranch dressing! Yum! Fresh fruit salad and peach ice tea and it was a great end to our day.

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I have always been a city girl but lately I have been wishing for a bit more space and breathing room... less cranky neighbors who tell my children to not turn around in their drive, more space to garden... I imagine that I would look like this- Farm Wife Chic!

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I have been reading so many great posts lately about homeschooling, gentle parenting, and just things that leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy... here's my faves right now:

* I am 100% stubborn too- tell me I can't so something and I will set out to prove you wrong.... love this!

* In general I love reading this series from SoulaMama, but this one just made me smile for days...

* Gardening is so much fun, I want to make some of this so my hands stay nice!

* Finally, this article just made me really think about why it is so important to treat your child like a friend instead of an indentured servant... great read!

How was your day/week?

Today I am....

:digging: this Ultimate Lego Roundup! I love playing with Legos and the girls!
:watching: Gnomeo and Juliet and remembering my first encounters with this famous play... I cried at the end...
:dancing: to this song. I want to not like her music but I just can't help myself! 
:reading: this book that I totally picked up because of the cover. I am addicted to Russian ballet stories that take place during the Romanov era!
:loving: this swim suit! I think it would flatter any figure... even curvy, " recently had a baby" ones!
:eating: french toast and mango- yummo!
:wishing: that the days would stay this springy, the kids would stay this little, and time would stop marching on across my face!
:hoping: that my knees hold out with all the dancing I am going to be doing cause it's a lot but I love it!
:making: some pop up cards thanks to this tutorial
:browsing: over this new website, lots of kid-related eye candy to see!
:cleaning: out the girls dressers and closets... seasons change and the girls are growing out of sizes so fast...
:craving: some more color in this house. I am strongly considering painting my stairs like this...
:learning: more about vaccinations and the risks they pose to our children, all starting with this website.

What are you doing today?

Sunday Thoughts

Hola ya'll! Well after a very rough week I can honestly say that I am looking forward to Monday. I am hopping back on the No Yelling Wagon, reaching deep within that calm mommy inside, and going to set the example that I so want to be for my girls. Hopefully this rainy weather will stop so that we can get back to our regularly scheduled program of bike riding, gardening, and playing! Here are some cool things that I wanted to share before I forget them:

I am clutching this article from Tiny Buddha like it is a life-raft... good-bye bad moods!

We love going to the movies when it is bad out or too hot but these days it is really pricey. If your kids are movie buffs too check out the Summer Movie Clubhouse for a GREAT summer movie deal- 10 movies for only $5 if you get the whole set or $1 per show at the ticket box!!!

Of course, summer also means lazy reading days on the beach, at the park, or wherever else we decide to plunk down. Check out Border's Double Dog Dare Reading Challenge or Barnes and Nobel's reading program to earn free books!

I would love to organize our garden like this... so neat and tidy...

Gabby is starting to really notice nature and I wanted her to start a nature journal this summer. This is a great example of a simple journal!

And of course there is always a new Etsy find... today's new discovery is a shop called Andrew's Reclaimed. I love beautifully polished and simple decor and this wood shop delivers all that and more. Check them out, especially this neat woodpecker feeder!

Well, that's it! Here's to a new week, a fresh start, and many new discoveries...

5 Things I Know for Sure

There are some days when I feel like I don't know a darn thing, but here are 5 things I know for sure:

1. Nursing clothes are pretty blah unless you know where to look... I NEED this sundress in orange and this awesome nursing bra! Who says you need to dress plain and dull if you are nursing?!

2. I am over all the rainy weather Cleveland has been getting! This fort-making bag makes a super gift and until we can garden for real I am making this gardening sensory bucket for the girls to play in.

3. There is something about homemade sweet tea that just makes everything right in the world. This awesome white tea make such a refreshing cold brew! And if you are needing some activities to do with your tea-drinking kids, check out this month's Action Pack from Whip Up. (Pssst... go here to get a code for 20% off the $5 Mini-mag... what a steal!!!)

4. Days are flying faster than I ever thought possible. My oldest girl now can ride a bike without training wheels and my baby is 5 months old today. When people tell you to cherish these days because they fly by, believe them!

5. Even when life gets a little crazy, fate hands you the tools to right yourself again. I have found my parenting inspiration, got an additional job teaching at a local dance studio, met new neighbors, planted flowers that will make my days sunny and colorful, and am surrounded by great music that lifts the spirit.... it is so very good here.

No More Yelling Over Spilled Milk!

 

No, that isn't my playroom... but it could be any given day.

What is the difference from last week until now?

How I react to it.

Remember this post that I wrote about a few days ago? 

How I noticed that I am not being the calm peaceful parent that I want to be 

because I am yelling all the time...

Well I took it to heart and can honestly say that 

I wish everyone would read it and realize what truth there is written there.

Since reading that post by my fellow mommy and homeschooler

my days are 100% smoother,

my girls actually listen to my words instead of tuning me out,

the lying has stopped,

and there is a "niceness" to everyone's demeanor.

No, it isn't a miracle drug and no, I haven't started spanking, using timeouts, or any other punishment.

In fact, all punishments and threats are gone. 

Of course I still parent and pay close attention to how my girls are acting.

But where the old Connie would have FLIPPED out at a mess like above,

the new Connie simply turns on the clean up music and has everyone work together to pick up.

Simple right?! 

I realized that I am setting the tone for the day,

when I am stressed and yell, 

the kids get just as frazzled and then the day goes to hell in a handbasket!!

And in the end, it is all small stuff...what is really worth more?

A trusting and loving relationship with my kids,

or a playroom where nothing gets played with because I want it to stay clean?

(Who the heck cares anyhow?!)

So there ya have it...

and I promised my girls out loud that I am no longer yelling,

so I am held accountable by them

and remember that I made a promise.

I am pretty sure everyone is a lot happier that there is no more angry mommy in the house!

(If you want to read more from the genius, this is a good post... and this one... oh what the heck, just read it all!!)

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday all! 
What a week this has been... I had a photo shoot yesterday, discovered that Miss Moira can scoot off her bed and make it all the way into the hallway (!!), had some pretty hefty wind that took out our power, and have been trying to get Miss Gabby back on track with the homeschooling. (She liked Spring break so much that she is not too motivated to get back into a routine...!) Anyhow, here are some coolness that I have found on the web:

We just bought the girls some Legos and are having so much fun building all sorts of things. I would love to build a table like this for them! Also, I am sure they would love to eat out of these Legos and have a Lego themed party...

Like to sew? Check out a month of free patterns here!

We like to celebrate Cinco de Mayo so these little mini pinatas are perfect to give to each girl.

Someday Cleveland will get Spring... until then I may just make my own townhouse planter to bring some green into the house.

The birds are all excited for Spring as well, I think that this Bread Bird Feeder is a simple project to feed our feathered friends and get rid of some stale bread!

Mother's Day is also coming up and I love this simple and pretty Poppy Canvas for the kids to make...

I mentioned that Gabby is in a "non-schooling" mood... my teaching agenda looks like this many days. I may try some of these tips and tricks to make the day more interesting for her to learn without the formality of "school at home". 

With summer comes Gabby's birthday so I am already putting together ideas for a simpler celebration... check out this adorable party supply store... loooooove these candles!

Lately I have noticed that when I am stressed or not feeling well I yell a lot more, something that I don't want to do and don't like about myself. Sure the kids do what I want but at what cost? This is a great article that a friend posted on facebook... it puts everything in perspective.

Finally, remember the cute little butterflies and dragonflies that I bought for the girl's Easter baskets? Well it turns out that they were reeeeaaallly tiny. I mean easily breakable tiny... so I hijacked them and made these!  Very dainty hair bobbies are now in my store and ready to grace someone's head.... I can't wait to make more!

The List 11.3.10

Hello!!! Yay for being 36 weeks and soooo close to the end of this pregnancy! (photos coming soon I promise!) Since Halloween is now over, the faux Christmas trees are out, and all the stores are playing Christmas music I am definitely getting in the mood for the holidays! I think I am going to make everyone a new stocking this year and have been putting together a list of gifts for the family. I am getting excited about the whole season in general I guess, especially with our new addition coming!! Here are some fun links that I have found.... enjoy!

Here are 10 Reasons to Throw a Party Besides a Birthday from OhDeeDoh. 

I love Martha Stweart's Christmas decorations, homemade ornaments, and stockings! These are the ones I will be making for the family this year! 

Pumpkin Bread sounds so good right now... this recipe sounds easy enough that I am pretty sure I can't mess it up... lol. 

With the colder months come higher heating bills... why don't you try entering the Freeze Yer Buns off Challenge 2010? Every degree less makes a difference!! (We are keeping the daytime temp at 64 and the nighttime temp at 58!) 

Every Christmas everyone gets a new ornament to add to the tree. I love these pretty Nutcracker boxes from Crate and Barrel... I could put some candy or a small gift card in them!

Do you find yourself screaming a lot at the kids and really getting riled up? Here are some easy tips on how to parent peacefully... it is truly a great article for any stressed out parent! 

Finally, I love this Rainbow Gundrop Wreath from a pretty Etsy shop called JustPretty (a fitting name!). I wonder if it is something I could make without eating the whole bag? 

What is Your Passion?

I have always been a passionate person, throwing myself into dance, singing, and other creative arts. I am also a book fiend and find it REALLY hard to put down a good book, especially at night before bed. I have stayed up well into the wee hours of morning finishing a good novel, blissfully unaware of the passing hours.

One goal of mine for my girls is not only to share my passions with them but also encourage their own dreams and loves. Many people believe that children so young cannot be passionate about something, that it is just a phase, or that the child's interest will not amount to much. But I know many who have been passionate about something, like musical theatre, from a young age and are happily still pursuing those interests.

My girls are night and day from each other and anyone who spends any amount of time with them sees that right away. Gabby loves sports, video games, and drawing. She asked me today if she can be an art teacher, which of course delighted me. We bought her an art book yesterday that takes numbers and teaches you how to turn them into drawings, like the number 8 becomes a spider.... it is very cool. (And this way she gets practice writing her numbers!)

AJ, however, is my princess and lives for costumes, shoes, and reading. She has a hoard of princess books that she insists on sleeping with and if you try to put them away she gets them right back out. She is constantly in one costume or another, and going errand running with her dressed up is so common that I don't even think about it. (So if you see a purple unicorn running around Target, yes, that is probably my daughter!)

I found this great article from Zen Family Habits about encouraging passions in your children.... a worthwhile read!

Just Let Them Play and Get Dirty!

Being a parent has opened my eyes to many things that we do in our society that is really harming our kids more than helping them. I used to observe the behaviors or practices and didn't think much of it because everyone did it, right? But now, thanks to a very good friend, I see more and think more about the long term effects of what all these "modern day parenting practices" mean for kids later in life.

Klint and I take the kids to the park quite a bit. Most of the time I will sit in a place where I can see all the kids, lend a hand when needed, but just watch the kids play and interact with each other. Also, most of the time, I am the ONLY parent doing this. All the other moms are hovering over the kids, ordering their children to play a certain way ("No Liam, hold the truck like this and roll it over here"), and giving them silly rules that have no place in an outdoor play setting such as "Don't pick up that rock, it is dirty", "No running!", "Don't jump off the stair, you will break something", and my personal favorite "Don't dig in the dirt or pick up sticks".

Meanwhile, I am letting Gabby climb wayyy high up a tree, give all the little girls sticks to dog with, and even pick up a huge beetle for the kids to look at. I let them go into the woods off the path with me, pick up rocks and throw them into the stream, and even *gasp* jump over fallen tree branches.

What is the point of taking kids to the park if they can't touch anything, run or yell, and have all these rules that have no purpose? Just let the kids play for goodness sake! Let them use sticks to make fairy forts, dig for buried acorns, and pretend something is different than what it is!!

Stamps Aren't Just for Scrapbooking Anymore!!!

     I feel like I am so lucky to be surrounded by great, smart, funny women who also have kindergarteners at Gabby's school. Everyday we wait for our little ones to get released from their teachers and have a wonderful time talking to each other and sharing tips and tricks to life. Since we are all from different walks of life, there is so much to learn from one another and right now I am going to share a really cool family activity that I learned about last night from my friend Heidi.

      While discussing activities that our Girl Scout Troop could do (did you know that I am a Daisy Leader?) Heidi mentioned an activity called Letterboxing which I have never heard of. Basically it is similar to Geocaching but minus the GPS and instead of trinkets it is a treasure hunt for stamps. This is the Wikipedia definition:

Letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art, and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like parks) and distribute clues to finding the box in printed catalogs, on one of several web sites, or by word of mouth. Individual letterboxes usually contain a notebook and a rubber stamp. Finders make an imprint of the letterbox's stamp, either on their personal notebook or on a postcard, and leave an impression of their personal stamp on the letterbox's "visitors' book" or "logbook" — as proof of having found the box and letting subsequent letterboxers see who have visited. 

Apparently this has been going on since the 1800's!!!  For me it is super appealing because there is no GPS involved, there are tons in our area and when we travel we can still do it, and it is very family friendly. Sound like fun?? Here are some resources to help you get started:

Tips to Get Started

How to Make Your Own Stamp   (if you don't want to buy one!)

AtlasQuest   (Where you find letterbox clues in your area and other places)

Cool Stamps from an Etsian

My goal is to make our family stamp this week since it is Spring Break here... I am trying to decide between something Buddhist and something having to do with our Vibram FiveFingers since it is an outdoors activity... or maybe I will make two stamps and see which one I like more!! Oh, and the photo above is what a page from your notebook would look like... cool huh???

Consuming Childhood

This video is a perfect example of why we don't have TV in our house as all... and definitely opened my eyes to all the other ways markets try to get to our kids! (thanks Prasti for the link!)

The Importance of Fairy Tales

Lately I have been thinking a lot about fairy tales and their importance in a child's life. With me selling children's books, many of which contain classic fairy tales, I am re-reading many beloved stories such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland.

I really believe that there is a special place, an important place, in childhood for fairy tales. I know many people believe that fairy tales should not be taught to children because they are too scary, will confuse the child as to what is real, or that they are immorally wrong and go against religious beliefs. But what I think is that fairy tales help children understand how the world works, that evil does not win in the end, that the underdog can rise to the top if they believe they can, and that cheating does not pay.

I know that as parents we want to protect our children from the evils of the world, but the hard truth is that there are evils out there. Difficult decisions to make, battles to be won, and evil to conquer. What better place than in a story to introduce these concepts?

In an effort to keep the fanciful imagination alive in our home Klint and I decided that we are going to put up a fairy door in the house on Christmas Eve while the girls are asleep. A little door where the girls can leave notes, trinkets, and pennies along with their imagination. I imagine too that the Christmas Fairy (who will have to be named of course!) will also leave notes and bits of fairy magic in the house.  I am not scouring the web for a mini mailbox and some teeny numbers to go on the fairy's door. Here is a great little article about where to get some fairy supplies! This is where I shall be getting my door from, I can't wait to paint it and make it a one of a kind fairy door!

(EDIT: I now offer custom made fairy doors in my Etsy store here!! They are a wonderful addition for any space, even in little shops!)


(picture from Monkeytail & Wellington)

The Creative Family

I just got this book in the mail from Amazon and am devouring it! I am searching for guidance on how to simplify our life and home and this gem of a book does not disappoint.
From great tips on how to create a home that is close and full of creativity to ways to find (and organize) inspiration, I love that all the projects are simple and functional. There are lovely ideas on things to do with your children to make your home...well a home. How to slow down, how to create a space that encourages a creative spirit, and a great list of things to consider when bringing toys into your home.
It didn't surprise me to realize that this is a Waldorf home, especially with the ideas on how to decorate a seasonal table. More and more, this parenting/life philosophy is appealing to Klint and I. I can't wait to get Homemade Home, also by Soule, as my "something to read" for Christmas!